The Arts Council of Ireland is proud to announce it has become a founding partner of All In, which will be a groundbreaking Ireland and UK-wide access scheme aimed at improving accessibility in the creative and cultural sector for people with disabilities. This initiative, developed ‘by disabled people for disabled people’, is designed to remove barriers and ensure that everyone can fully participate in and enjoy the diverse range of creative experiences that the arts have to offer, including theatres, galleries, museums, festivals and more.
As a founding partner, the Arts Council of Ireland is joining forces with its UK counterparts—Arts Council England, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of Wales, and Creative Scotland—on this ambitious, disabled-led project, marking a historic moment in bi-lateral cultural cooperation.
The All In model is based on Hynt, a successful arts access scheme in Wales but is a scaled-up version which includes all five Ireland and UK Arts Councils. It aims to make it easier for people with disabilities to book tickets by improving the way access requirements are shared, provide support and skills development to help organisations meet sector-backed accessibility standards, and attract new audiences to the creative and cultural sector in Ireland and the UK.
The Arts Council of Ireland seeks expressions of interest for two Irish representatives to join the All In Advisory Group (AIAG), whose role is to assist in guiding the project. The group comprises 12 disabled professionals active in creative and cultural organisations who are required to participate in quarterly meetings, and these are paid positions.
Maura McGrath, Chair of the Arts Council of Ireland, said: “By joining the All In initiative, we are taking an essential step towards ensuring that creativity and culture are accessible to all. This leadership reflects our strategic commitment to breaking down barriers and creating inclusive environments where access for audiences with disabilities is not a barrier.”
Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council of Ireland said: “All In is a unique, disabled-led initiative that will revolutionise accessibility in the arts. We’re thrilled to be a founding partner, and together, we’ll make sure that everyone, regardless of their access requirements, can fully enjoy the rich cultural experiences both the UK and Ireland have to offer.”
Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England; Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland; Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Wales; and Dana MacLeod, Executive Director of Arts, Communities, and Inclusion at Creative Scotland, said: "We are thrilled to welcome the Arts Council of Ireland as a founding partner of All In. This pivotal partnership will help to extend the scheme's reach and ensure creativity and culture is accessible to everyone, everywhere. This is a ground-breaking moment for All In, and we are looking forward to working closely with Irish and UK creative and cultural organisations as the scheme develops."
Padraig Naughton, Executive Director of Arts and Disability Ireland, said: “The ambition of the All In access scheme to replicate in Ireland what has already been achieved in Wales would be truly transformational for Irish audiences with disabilities. Not only will it result in reducing barriers, while promoting inclusive experiences but will allow Irish audiences with disabilities to avail of seamless and accessible engagement at venues across these islands, be that on the island of Ireland, England, Wales or Scotland”.
Andrew Miller, UK Arts Access Champion for All In, said: “All In could not be more pleased to welcome the Arts Council of Ireland as one of the founding partners alongside the four UK arts councils and development agencies. We are committed to improving accessibility for D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent people no matter where they’re based, and this announcement marks the first step in our exciting international journey. Through our partnership with Ireland, we will benefit from additional cultural and lived experience in our advisory groups, making sure that Irish people with disabilities shape the growth of a scheme that will welcome everyone.”
The Arts Council of Ireland will manage the creation of Irish language branding for the All In initiative and is currently working with artists and practitioners who work as Gaeilge and who have lived experience of disability or deep knowledge of disability issues. This will ensure the scheme’s accessibility to Irish-language speakers, further enhancing its reach and cultural resonance.